Social Security Pensions in the Informal Sector: The Perspectives of Farmers in the Shai Osu – Doku District

ABSTRACT

This study explored the perspectives of farmers in the Shai Osu-Doku district about social security pensions in the Informal Sector. On the whole Small Holder Farmers are known to be low irregular income earners who despite their entire years of contributing to GDP, employment and the food basket in Ghana lope into abject poverty at old age. Social security pensions become a necessary tool for securing the minimal meaningful livelihood of farmers at old age. The study purposed to ascertain farmers’ involvement in the informal sector social security pension scheme in securing meaningful livelihood at old age, in the face of their precarious financial challenges and how existing institutional contributions have helped enhanced their participation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Although farmers in Shai Osu-Doku district are willing to participate in the ISSSPS, they will not be able to afford a Voluntary Defined Contribution due to irregular earnings, loss of farm lands, and non-existence institutional help to address exogenous challenges. It is therefore imperative not to sidestep farmers’ social security needs.A deliberate government intervention to fund farmers’ social security through a percentage of GDP and dedicated processing projects could be a huge step to avert old age poverty crises among farmers.